Friday, April 30, 2010

NY through a tourist's eyes

I admit it - I am one big ACHE. We walked MILES! I met my friend Cécile at 10:00 this morning at her hotel. En route to meet her, a glimpse of NY's Finest on horseback. I forget how many there are, but they are always a pleasure to see. He/she (who can tell?) doesn't look too happy about this jaywalker but I have never seen anybody get a ticket in NY for crossing in the middle of the street. (Or for honking - for which there is ostensibly a $300 fine.) And here -- the symmetry of a NY parking garage.

We took the subway down to Greenwich Village, where we started at the intersection of W.4th St. and 8th St. (only in NY) and walked through Washington Square Park. Lots of men playing chess and a few desultory guitar players.

From the arch at leafy Washington Square, we could look up 5th Ave. and see the Empire State Building, about 1-1/2 miles away.

Everywhere we went they were doing construction, but at least it looked reasonably attractive. Do you think this was on purpose?

We think the green stuff on this building was covering up some structural problems. OTOH - maybe it was decoration.

From the Village to Soho, where we found a little shop selling fabulous one-of-a-kind resin jewelry

furniture, and accessories(not that you would try to sit on any of it!)

On our way down Lafayette Street to Soho, Cécile managed to liberate some - uh - already broken construction fence. Made her day! She expected to be arrested, but no worries there.

Continuing down the street...
we came across this woman, who was cheerfully doing a public service.

In Chinatown these were so pretty I had to take a picture but now I forget what they were called.

Little Italy, NoLita, Union Square and finally, we went gallery hopping in Chelsea. We saw an exhibit we loved by an artist called Amy Sillman and after that, everything looked like junk. Here are a couple of pieces we especially liked.

Then, in another gallery -- now, really. Because of the reflection I couldn't get a good picture of the white-framed fragment of carpet. So sorry you are missing it.

For me, the best art of all was on one of the walls we came across as we walked outside.

Afterwards, we walked up to Hell's Kitchen and had a lovely dinner in an Italian restaurant - Cécile walked me to the Port Authority and we each went our separate ways.

That's the short story -- I am leaving out a lot. It was a day of photo-taking, and getting the flavor of the neighborhoods, which Cécile noted changed drastically and often from block to block. Washington Square was serene - and a block away, traffic and people were noisy and busy. She called my attention to the jackhammer in Soho("dig we must for a better New York") to which I had hardly paid attention; and then to the fact that Mulberry St. in NoLita was so quiet because there was no traffic. Things I never thought about but will observe with new eyes next time.

I think the Chinatown shot is of dragon fruit. They do look a bit like kohlrabi, but the colors are different. I took a picture of them when I was in Barcelona, because I loved the look of them, but I've never eaten one.

Dear Rayna. I am back in Zurich and my head is still filled with all the images I saw on our fantastic city hike. Thanks again for walking all these miles with me and the gift of a glorious day indeed(hope your feet are feeling a bit better by now...)

I know I can always count on you for some wonderful, eclectic photos from your trips. Thank you! Now I can add dragon fruit to my culinary desires. I want to try all three kinds I've found. And, finally, I adore your vocabulary. :)Peace and dragon fruit drinks,Christina

I have always been a little afraid of NYC and so have never been but your photos make me really want to go. I actually have one of those necklaces from Sobral which is a treasures memento from Paris. I wish I had bought more.